Erik ten Hag has told Donny van de Beek what he needs to hear at Manchester United

It's been pretty bleak for Donny van de Beek. The Dutchman's struggles since he joined Manchester United have been well-documented, and it sums up his misfortune that not even a reunion with Ajax mentor Erik ten Hag has been able to bring out the best of him.

Van de Beek hasn't been helped by another lengthy injury lay-off that has seen him miss the last 30 matches, but even before that setback he was struggling for consistency in the United side.

The 26-year-old revealed this week he is 'not far away' from a return after the freakish extent of his injury, when his leg buckled under a challenge from Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi back in January.

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Van de Beek was ruled out for the season after the setback, and despite the recent encouragement over his rehabilitation period, it still looks unlikely he will feature again before pre-season. It raises a question we have already been faced with many times before: what's next for Van de Beek at Old Trafford?

There is an argument he should be given one final lifeline due to the fact that this season has been hampered so heavily by injury and he hasn't had a fair chance to make the most of it.

Ten Hag is still an admirer of the midfielder and knows just how good he can be, but patience is running out for a player who is nearing three years at the club without much to show for it.

"It’s either he fights and proves himself in this environment or he goes, but for me, there is still a way for him," Ten Hag stated last November. "But it’s not going to be easy for him because the competition there is really strong."

The World Cup break didn't do him any favours by halting his momentum, and club